Refrigerating system



Nov. 9, 1948. A. aHuB ARD 2,453,131

REFRIGERATING SYSTE" mm June as, 1947 Fig. l.

Inventor-Q Albert 8. Hubbard [1"; 1.78921 HIS Attorney.

Patented Nov. 9, 1948 I UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE 2,453,131 REFRIGEBATING SYSTEM Albert B. Hubbard, Caldwell, N. .L, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New Application June 28, 1947, Serial No. 757,888

- 9 Claims.

My invention relates to refrigerating systems and particularly to the control of the flow of refrigerant in refrigerating systems of the compression type having restricting tubes for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant to the evaporator.

In refrigerating systems such as those employed for air conditioning, the how of liquid refrigerant from the liquid receiver or condenser to the evaporator may be controlled by a restricting tube, commonly called a capillary." 'The motor for driving the compressor of such refrigerating system is normally designed to carry the maximum load of the system and is underloaded during the greater portion of the normal operation of the system. For example, in air conditioning installations which are provided with refrigerating systems having air cooled refrigerant condensing units, the maximum load which the motor must carry is determined by the maximum temperature and humidity conditions of the tion will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 represents diagrammatically a refrigerating system embodying my invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate modifications of the system shown in Fig. l.

Referring now to the drawing, the system disclosed in ,Fig. 1 comprises a refrigerant compressor l driven by an electric motor H and connected in a closed refrigerant circuit including a condenser I2, a liquid receiver i3 and a finned tube evaporator l4. During the operation of the system, hot. compressed refrigerant discharged from the compressor l0 flows to the conambient air. Thus on hot, humid days the motor I is required to carry its maximum load, whereas during normal summer conditions the load may be materially lower. The full capacity of the moterns having restricting tube flow control devices,

and accordingly it is an object of my present invention to provide a refrigerating system having a restricting tube flow control device and including an improved arrangement for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant through the device in accordance with the operating conditions of the system.

It is another object of my invention to provide a refrigerating system having a restricting tube flow control device and including a. motor-driven compressor, together with an improved arrangement for regulating the flow of liquid refrigerant through the device in accordance with motor load conditions to maintain substantially constant the load on the motor throughout the operating range of the system.

Further objects and advantages of my invendenser H where it is cooled by the circulation of air produced by operation of a fan is driven by a motor l6. The refrigerant is cooled and liquefied in the condenser and flows to the liquid receiver I 3 from which it flows to the evaporator under control of a restricting tube I'I having an enlarged portion i8 intermediate the ends thereof. The

- liquid refrigerant is vaporizedby the absorption of heat from air circulated over the evaporator i4 and the vaporized refrigerant is returned to the compressor through a suction line iii. The system is operated by any suitable control (not shown) which may be responsive to the temperature or humidity of the air within a space to be conditioned and which energizes the motor II whenever there is a demand for cooling, the

control being arranged to energize motor supply lines 20 for this purpose. During the operation of the system the restricting tube i1 maintains the pressure difference between the high and low pressure sides of the system, and liquid refrigerant flows through the tube I! as long as there is a pressure difierence between the ends of the tube. When the temperature of the ambient air circulated over the condenser I2 varies, the pressure within the condenser varies accordingly, and consequently, under different ambient air conditions, the pressure across the restricting tube also varies. Refrigerating systems of the type shown.

whenever the system is operated. This controlarrangement includes a by-pass conduit 2| connected to the condenser l2 at a portion containing high pressure refrigerant vapor and having its other end connected to the enlarged portion |8 of the tube I]. The end of the bypass 2| adjacent the tube I1 is formed as a restricting tube, as indicated at 22, and limits the rate of flow of gas through the by-pass. When refrigerant is admitted to the tube I! through the bypass 2|, it varies the rate of flow of refrigerant through the tube If vaporized refrigerant is admitted to the tube H the flow therethrough is reduced, whereas the admission of high pressure liquid refrigerant may increase the flow of refrigerant through the tube H.

In order to control the flow of refrigerant through by-pass 2| so that either liquid or gaseous refrigerant may be admitted to the tube I1, I provide a heat exchange unit including a tank or container 23 with which a portion of the bypass is in heat exchange relationship. Within the container 23 there is also arranged an electric heater 24 and a cooling conduit 25 constituting a portion of the low pressure side of the system. The cooling conduit is supplied with liquid refrigerant from the liquid line of the evaporator i4 between the outlet of the tube l7 and the evaporator. The amount of flow of liquid through the conduit 25 may be determined by a manually adjustable valve 26. The conduit 25 provides a by-pass around the evaporator between the liquid line and the suction line l9. The heat exchange tank 23 contains a body 21 of volatile liquid, such as refrigerant, and the level of the liquid may be varied by flow between the container 23 and a second container 28 arranged in heat exchange relationship with the suction line l9, the lower portions of the two containers being connected by a conduit 29 so that liquid refrigerant may flow from one to the other. It will be apparent that by varying the pressure of the vapor in the two containers, liquid refrigerant may be forced from one to the other. The two containers connected by the conduit 29 constitute a closed chamber having two portions, one in heat exchange with the suction line and the other in heat exchange with the by-pass 2| and the conduit 25. When there is liquid in the container 23, heat exchange takes place between the conduit 2| and the conduit 25 to cool the refrigerant passing through the by-pass. The

system is designed so that the heat exchange is sufiicient to partly condense the. refrigerant bypassed from the condenser to the tube I! when there is a substantial amount of liquid in the container 23, as shown in the drawing. By ener-' gizing the heater 24, vapor in the container 23 is expanded and some further refrigerant vaporized, and the liquid is displaced and flows to the container 28. The heat transfer between the tube l1 and the liquid in the container 23 thus is changed by variation of the height of liquid in the container. Under this condition, hot refrigerant gas flows through the restricting tube 22 to the tube IT. The heat exchanger 28 also affects the distribution of volatile liquid between the containers 23 and -28, the capacity of the exchanger 28 being designed so that in the event v4 v there is a substantial decrease in suction line temperature, liquid is withdrawn from the container 23 by the cooling and condensation of vapor in the container 28; and in the event that liquid refrigerant flows through the suction'line, substantially all the liquid will be withdrawn from thecontainer 23. It will thus be apparent that the arrangement of the heat exchangers 23 and 28 is such that a regulating control is effected;

depending upon the temperature of the'suction line '|9. By controlling the energization of the heater 24 a further control of the system may be provided, and in the arrangement illustrated the heater is energized by connection across supply leads 30 upon closing of a switch 3|. The switch 3| is actuated by a bellows 32 connected by duct 33 with a discharge connection between the compressor I0 and the condenser l2. Thus when the discharge pressure reaches a predetermined high value, the switch 3| is closed to energize the heater 24. The resultant heat forces liquid refrigerant from the container 23 and dethe by-pass 2| and the cooling conduit 25.

creases or stops the heat interchange between pressure refrigerant gas is then admitted to the tube I"! and reduces the flow of refrigerant therethrough, thereby decreasing the effective capacity of the evaporator i4 and consequently decreasing the load on the compressor l0 and its driving motor. It will thus be apparent that the operation of the system can be selected so that a pre determined average load is maintained on the motor I by regulating the flow of liquid refrigerant through the tube The discharge pressure of the compressor is a measure of the load of the motor II and consequently the system is controlled in accordance with a motor load condition.

It will be understood that the illustration of the containers 23 and 28 is merely diagrammatic on the drawing and that in practice the entire liquid-containing chamber, including the two containers and the connection 29, would be constructed in any manner suitable to the particular installation, the heat exchange relationship being obtained in any practicable manner, for example, by clamping the heat transfer members to the several conduits l3, 2| and 25'. Furthermore it is obvious that other portions of the low pressure side of the system. may be employed for cooling the container 23 and that the effective cooling capacity of the low pressure side on the container 23 may be adjusted by changing the thermal resistance between the low side and the container in any suitable manner, the valve 23 for controlling the by-pass conduit 25 being illustrated merely as one suitable arrangement.

In the system of Fig. 2 only the compressor and driving motor, together with the heater control, have been illustrated. Except for the control, this system is the same as that of Fig. 1 and corresponding parts have been designated by the same numerals. The switch 3| in Flg. 2 is controlled by a bellows 34 having a temperature feeler bulb 35 in heat exchange relation with the motor Preferably the element 35 is connected in a position to be responsive to the highest temperature portion of the motor. The operation of the system is the same as that of Fig. 2, the switch 3| being closed upon a predetermined rise in the temperature of the motor, thereby reducing the load on the system to maintain the motor load substantially constant and maintain the motor temperature below some predetermined limit.

High I The arrangement of Fig. 3 effects the control of the s 'itch 3| in accordance with the electrical input to the motor H as determined by, coils 38 and 31 responsive to the input voltage and current respectively at the motor terminals and which actuate a magnetic armature-88 connected to operate the switch in opposition to a spring 39. On a predeterminedincrease in input to the motor, the switch 3i is closed and operates to reduce the effective capacity of the system and consequently the load on the motor II, the continued operation of the control effecting a substantially constant motor loadv throughout the operating periods of the refrigerating machine.

From the foregoin it is apparent that I have provided a simple arrangement for controlling the operation of a refrigerating machine having a flow restricting tube and that the control arrangement requires no moving parts in the refrigerant circuit. Although specific arrangements have been illustrated and described, other applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. I do not, .therefore, desire my invention to be limited to the details illustrated and described, and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A refrigerating system including a compressor and a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant circuit, a flow restricting tube connected in said circuit between said condenser and said evaporator to control the flow of liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, a by-pass conduit connected between said condenser and said tube intermediate the ends of said tube, means providing a closed chamber having a first portion in heat exchange relationship with said by-pass and containing a body of volatile liquid, means for heating saidportion of said chamber to vaporize liquid and. force liquid out of said portion of said chamber into a second portion thereof, means utilizing refrigerant withdrawn from said evaporator for cooling said second por-- tion of said chamber to condense vapor therein;

and means responsive to a condition of operation of said system for energizing said heating means to control the flow of refrigerant through said by-pass for varying the rate of flow of refrigerant to said evaporator.

2. A refrigerating system including a compressor and a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant circuit, a flow restrictingtub connected in said circuit between said condenser and said evaporator to control the flow of liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, a by-pass conduit connected between said condenser and said tube intermediate the ends of said tube,.

means providing a closed chamber having a first portion in heat exchange relationship with said by-pass and containing a body of volatile liquid, means for heating said portion of said chamber to vaporize liquid and force liquid out of said portion of said chamber into a second portion thereof, means utilizing refrigerant withdrawn from said evaporator for cooling said second portion of said chamber to condense vapor therein, means responsive toa condition of operation of said system for energizing said heating means to control the fiow of refrigerant through said by-pass for varying the rate of fiow of refrigerant to said evaporator, and cooling means arranged in heat exchange relation with 'said'first portion of said chamber for cooling the vapor therein trol the flow of liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, a by-pass conduit connected between said condenser and said tube intermediate the ends of said tube, means providing a closed chamber having a first portion in heat exchange relationship with said by-pass and containing a body of volatile liquid, means for heating said portion of said chamber to vaporize liquid and force liquid out of said portion of said chamber into a second portion thereof, means utilizing refrigerant withdrawn from said evaporator for cooling said second portion of said chamber to condense vapor therein, means responsive to a condition of operation of said system ,for energizing said heating means to control the flow of refrigerant through said by-pass forvarying the rate of flow of refrigerant to said evaporator, and means utilizing refrigerant on the low pressure side of said system for cooling the refrigerant within said first por- I tion and for effecting a rapid return of liquid to said first portion-upon decrease in the energization of said heating means.

"4. A refrigerating systemincluding a compressor and a condenser and an.evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant circuit, a motor for driving said compressor, a flow restricting tube connected in said circuit between said condenser and said evaporator to control the flow of liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, a by-pass conduit connected between said condenser and said tube intermediate the ends of said tube, means providing a closed chamber having a first portion in heat exchange relationship with said by-pass and containing a body of volatile liquid, means for heating said portion of said chamber to vaporize liquid and force liquid out of said portion of said chamber into a second portion thereof, means utilizing refrigerant withdrawn from said evaporator for cooling said second portion of said chamber to condense vapor therein, and means dependent upon a condition of operation of said motor for energizing said heating means to control the flow of refrigerant through said by-pass for varying the rate of flow of refrigerant to said evaporator and maintaining the load on said motor substantially constant throughout each operating period thereof,

5. A refrigerating system including a compressor and a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant circuit, a motor for driving said compressor, a flow restricting tube connected in said circuit between said condenser and said evaporator to control the flow of liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, a bypass conduit connected between said condenser and said tube intermediate the ends of said tube, means providihg a closed chamber having a first portion in heat exchange relationship with said by-pass and containing a body of volatile liquid, means for heating said portion of said chamber to vaporize liquid and force liquid out of said portion of said,

high pressure side of said system for energizing stant throughout each operating period thereof.

6. A refrigerating system including a compressor and a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant circuit, a motor for driving said compressor, a flow restrictingtube connected in said circuit between said condenser and said evaporator to control the flow of liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, a by-pass conduit connected between said condenser and said tube intermediate the ends of said tube, means providing a closed chamber having a first portion in heat exchange relationship with said by-pass and containing a body of volatile liquid, means for heating said portion of said chamber to vaporize liquid and force liquid out of said portion of said chamber into a second portion thereof, means utilizing refrigerant withdrawn from said evaporator for cooling said second portion of said chamber to condense vapor therein, and means dependent upon the temperature of said motor for energizing said heating means to control the flow of refrigerant through said by-pass for varying the rate of flow of refrigerant to said evaporator and main? taining the load on said motor substantially constant throughout each operating period thereof.

7. A refrigerating 'system including a compressor and a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant circuit, an electric motor for driving said compressor, a flow restricting tube connected in said circuit between said condenser and said evaporator to control the flow of liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, a by-pass conduit connected between said condenser and said tube intermediate the ends of said tube, means providing a closed chamber having afirst portion in heat exchange relationship with said by-pass and containing a body of volatile liquid, means for heating said portion of said chamber to vaporize liquid and force liquid out of said portion of said chamber into a second portion thereof, means utilizing refrigerant withdrawn from said evaporator for cooling said second portion of said chamber to condense vapor therein, and means dependent upon the electrical input to said motor for energizing said heating means to control the flow of refrigerant through said by-pass for varying the rate of flow of refrigerant to said evaporator and maintaining the load on said motor substantially constant throughout each operating period thereof.

8. A refrigerating system including a compressor and a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed refrigerant circuit, a flow restricting tube connected in said circuit between said condenser and said evaporator to control the flow of liquid refrigerant to said evaporator, a by-pass conduit connected between said condenser and said tube intermediate the ends of said tube, a first closed container arranged in heat exchange relation with said by-pass conduit, a second closed container arranged in heat exchange relation with said refrigerant circuit between said evaporator and the intake of said compressor, a conduit providing communication between the lower portions of said containers, a body of volatile liquid in said containers, means for heating said first chamber to vaporize liquid and force liquid out of said first container into said second container, and means responsive to a condition of operation of said system for ener-' gizing said heating means to reduce the quantity of liquid in said first container and to control the flow of refrigerant through said by-pass conduit for varying the rateof flow of refrigerant to said evaporator.

9. A refrigerating system including a compressor and a condenser and an evaporator connectcd in a closed refrigerant circuit, a flow restricting tube connected in said circuit between said condenser and said evaporator to control the flow of liquidrefrigerant to said evaporator, a

by-pass conduit connected between said condenser and said tube intermediate the ends of said tube, a first closed container arranged in heat exchange relation with said by-pass conduit, said by-pass conduit having a restricted portion between said container and-said tube for limiting the flow of refrigerant therethrough, a second closed container arranged in heat exchange relation with said refrigerant circuit between said cvaporator and the intake of said compressor, a conduit providing communication between the lower portions of said containers, a body of volatile liquid in said containers, means for heating said first chamber to vaporize liquid and force liquid out of said first container into said second container, means responsive to a condition of operation of said system for energizing said heating means to control the flow of refrigerant to said by-pass conduit for varying the rate of flow of refrigerant to said evaporator, and means for utilizing refrigerant discharged from the outlet of said tube for cooling the liquid in said first container and the refrigerant in said by-pass.

ALBERT B. HUBBARD.

No references cited. 

